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Suggest You - Dealing with a Difficult Boss
Once upon a time there were three businesses. They sold the same types of products in the same geographic area. But there were big differences in the way they presented themselves to their prospects.One positioned himself as the “high price / high quality / high personal service” vendor. His company became known as the expert in the selected market niche of satisfying customers who liked feeling extra-special and were willing to pay for it. He dominated that portion of the marketplace while repelling the customer who was looking for bargains.The second business was positioned as the “low price supplier” offering limited service, limited selection, and “Low, Low, One-Time-Only-Discount-Pricing.” The company specialized in the highly promotional end of the market and they dominated it. If you wanted first-class service and amenities you went else
The Egomaniac
Does your boss suck up all the air in the room? An inflated personality is often part of entrepreneurial DNA. This type of boss wouldn’t be where she is without the drive and single-mindedness that catapulted her vision from an idea into reality. However, when an oversized ego defines her management style and overpowers team members, it becomes your problem.
Dealing with the Egomaniac
First, sometimes you need to let the boss take the credit (even if it was your idea). Okay, I can hear you saying “no way!” The reality is your job is to make her look good to clients and/or her boss. You need to do whatever it takes to help her achieve her goals (within ethical boundaries, of course). From her succe
You have gone through the 8 Assents of Inspirational Leadership, now the final step to cultivating an inspired and dedicated workforce is to build the THE 5 PILLARS OF A TRANSFORMATIONAL ENVIRONMENTThe 5 pillars are the foundations that convert a team to an organization transforming powerhouse. When leaders become aware of their work environment and the affects they have on it, when they learn the Psychology of groups and how it applies to the actions, reactions and emotions of teams and departments, then the foundation for the pillars is created.Inspiration of individuals will make a difference, but inspiration of teams and of the perceptions of work those teams have, define a transformational leader and become apparent in organizational effectiveness and results.The more people around you that become aware of the psychology of how and why t
Nowhere does this nerve wracking and high velocity approach show up more than in the modus operandi of many bosses.
Learning how to function with a difficult boss is one of the hardest challenges you face in your work life. Have you heard the saying that people don’t leave jobs, they leave their bosses? So true! You can love your job but if you hate your boss, you will hate going to work. And you won’t last long.
So how do you deal with a difficult boss?
In this article I profile four types of bosses: The Screamer, The Hypocrite, The Egomaniac, and The Risk Averse Boss. See if you recognize your boss.
The Screamer
Don’t you just love this type of boss? NOT. At least she is predictable. You can rest assured that she will erupt like clockwork.
Watch for the telltale signs prior to erupting. Her brow will furl, eyebrows will rise and you can see the veins popping in her neck. Sometimes, she’ll just explode without any warning or provocation.
The screamer burns out quickly. And she won’t remember what she said 15 minutes later. Screamers don’t want to be interrupted; you’ll make matters worse if you try to respond. Batten down the hatches while she blows off steam. If you can’t remove yourself, at least you know that this eruption usually doesn’t last long. As with a child having a tantrum, you have to wait till the child runs out of tears and energy.
Dealing with The Screamer
After the high volume tirade stops and you have an opening, probe to find out what’s behind the loud stream of words. Deliberately lower the volume of your voice and the tone of the discourse.
Ask: “I want to make sure I understand; can we go over the most important points?”
Learn to judge the best times to approach her. Tone of voice, body language, time of day, all these hold signs of her emotional barometer. That’s the key to getting what you need and avoiding many of her outbursts.
One note of caution, you need to have a thick skin to deal with this type of boss. If you’re easily offended or take things personally (it’s hard not to when someone is screaming at you!), you’ll need an attitude adjustment or you will burn out. My best advice is to watch other people who work well with her, and follow their lead.
The Hypocrite
This boss says one thing but really means another. The hypocrite will say he wants you to take the lead but what he means is if you try to overstep your authority, he’ll embarrass you in front of staff members. Or he will say the company is hard pressed for cash and then you’ll find that he’s bought a designer suit and is planning a vacation in Europe. He is a master at talking out of both sides of his mouth. What you see is definitely not what you get!
Dealing with the Hypocrite
You need to figure out if your boss is just moody or if his behavior is done with intent. This is a huge distinction. If your boss’s behavior comes from mood swings, you need to keep your reactions as consistent as possible.
Whether things are good or bad, you need to control how you respond and not join your boss on his emotional rollercoaster. Be patient and professional at all times. Use a “charge neutral” voice, an even, unemotional tone.
On the other hand, if he alters his behavior to manipulate you, he is on power trip and patience and professionalism on your part won’t work. You’ll need to prepare an exit strategy and eventually, leave.
The Egomaniac
Does your boss suck up all the air in the room? An inflated personality is often part of entrepreneurial DNA. This type of boss wouldn’t be where she is without the drive and single-mindedness that catapulted her vision from an idea into reality. However, when an oversized ego defines her management style and overpowers team members, it becomes your problem.
Dealing with the Egomaniac
First, sometimes you need to let the boss take the credit (even if it was your idea). Okay, I can hear you saying “no way!” The reality is your job is to make her look good to clients and/or her boss. You need to do whatever it takes to help her achieve her goals (within ethical boundaries, of course). From her succe
It’s probably been a long week for you. Hassles with machines breaking down, employees not showing up for jobs and bills piled high over your head. You are wondering if it’s all worth it or should you just pack it in and go and work for another, more successful carpet cleaning business? Right now, bringing in any regular wage probably seems like an attractive idea.Whatever you are going through, Bobby Walker has been there as well. Until he started utilizing internet advertising, his carpet cleaning business was a small one, too, and he knows what it’s like to struggle. That is why he has made the decision to release his very own company blueprint to successful online marketing. Only two hundred people will be allowed to buy it, so if you are interested, you need to get it fast.With over 200,000 carpet cleaning jobs being booked online every mon
The Screamer
Don’t you just love this type of boss? NOT. At least she is predictable. You can rest assured that she will erupt like clockwork.
Watch for the telltale signs prior to erupting. Her brow will furl, eyebrows will rise and you can see the veins popping in her neck. Sometimes, she’ll just explode without any warning or provocation.
The screamer burns out quickly. And she won’t remember what she said 15 minutes later. Screamers don’t want to be interrupted; you’ll make matters worse if you try to respond. Batten down the hatches while she blows off steam. If you can’t remove yourself, at least you know that this eruption usually doesn’t last long. As with a child having a tantrum, you have to wait till the child runs out of tears and energy.
Dealing with The Screamer
After the high volume tirade stops and you have an opening, probe to find out what’s behind the loud stream of words. Deliberately lower the volume of your voice and the tone of the discourse.
Ask: “I want to make sure I understand; can we go over the most important points?”
Learn to judge the best times to approach her. Tone of voice, body language, time of day, all these hold signs of her emotional barometer. That’s the key to getting what you need and avoiding many of her outbursts.
One note of caution, you need to have a thick skin to deal with this type of boss. If you’re easily offended or take things personally (it’s hard not to when someone is screaming at you!), you’ll need an attitude adjustment or you will burn out. My best advice is to watch other people who work well with her, and follow their lead.
The Hypocrite
This boss says one thing but really means another. The hypocrite will say he wants you to take the lead but what he means is if you try to overstep your authority, he’ll embarrass you in front of staff members. Or he will say the company is hard pressed for cash and then you’ll find that he’s bought a designer suit and is planning a vacation in Europe. He is a master at talking out of both sides of his mouth. What you see is definitely not what you get!
Dealing with the Hypocrite
You need to figure out if your boss is just moody or if his behavior is done with intent. This is a huge distinction. If your boss’s behavior comes from mood swings, you need to keep your reactions as consistent as possible.
Whether things are good or bad, you need to control how you respond and not join your boss on his emotional rollercoaster. Be patient and professional at all times. Use a “charge neutral” voice, an even, unemotional tone.
On the other hand, if he alters his behavior to manipulate you, he is on power trip and patience and professionalism on your part won’t work. You’ll need to prepare an exit strategy and eventually, leave.
The Egomaniac
Does your boss suck up all the air in the room? An inflated personality is often part of entrepreneurial DNA. This type of boss wouldn’t be where she is without the drive and single-mindedness that catapulted her vision from an idea into reality. However, when an oversized ego defines her management style and overpowers team members, it becomes your problem.
Dealing with the Egomaniac
First, sometimes you need to let the boss take the credit (even if it was your idea). Okay, I can hear you saying “no way!” The reality is your job is to make her look good to clients and/or her boss. You need to do whatever it takes to help her achieve her goals (within ethical boundaries, of course). From her succe
One of the first add-on services most cleaning contractors want to add to their janitorial service is floor care - stripping and waxing, burnishing, and buffing. In order to perform these services, you must use the right equipment for the job.The following is a list of the most commonly used equipment that cleaning contractors use in floor care. Equipment is either electric, battery-operated, or propane. Most cleaning contractors will use electric equipment in smaller cleaning accounts and office buildings. Propane equipment is most often used on large floor areas such as those in retail stores and grocery stores.Slow Speed Buffer (also known as a side-by-side or swing machine). Slow speed machines are used for a variety of tasks including stripping floors, scrubbing floors, sanding wood floors, and carpet cleaning using cotton bonnets. They come in
Ask: “I want to make sure I understand; can we go over the most important points?”
Learn to judge the best times to approach her. Tone of voice, body language, time of day, all these hold signs of her emotional barometer. That’s the key to getting what you need and avoiding many of her outbursts.
One note of caution, you need to have a thick skin to deal with this type of boss. If you’re easily offended or take things personally (it’s hard not to when someone is screaming at you!), you’ll need an attitude adjustment or you will burn out. My best advice is to watch other people who work well with her, and follow their lead.
The Hypocrite
This boss says one thing but really means another. The hypocrite will say he wants you to take the lead but what he means is if you try to overstep your authority, he’ll embarrass you in front of staff members. Or he will say the company is hard pressed for cash and then you’ll find that he’s bought a designer suit and is planning a vacation in Europe. He is a master at talking out of both sides of his mouth. What you see is definitely not what you get!
Dealing with the Hypocrite
You need to figure out if your boss is just moody or if his behavior is done with intent. This is a huge distinction. If your boss’s behavior comes from mood swings, you need to keep your reactions as consistent as possible.
Whether things are good or bad, you need to control how you respond and not join your boss on his emotional rollercoaster. Be patient and professional at all times. Use a “charge neutral” voice, an even, unemotional tone.
On the other hand, if he alters his behavior to manipulate you, he is on power trip and patience and professionalism on your part won’t work. You’ll need to prepare an exit strategy and eventually, leave.
The Egomaniac
Does your boss suck up all the air in the room? An inflated personality is often part of entrepreneurial DNA. This type of boss wouldn’t be where she is without the drive and single-mindedness that catapulted her vision from an idea into reality. However, when an oversized ego defines her management style and overpowers team members, it becomes your problem.
Dealing with the Egomaniac
First, sometimes you need to let the boss take the credit (even if it was your idea). Okay, I can hear you saying “no way!” The reality is your job is to make her look good to clients and/or her boss. You need to do whatever it takes to help her achieve her goals (within ethical boundaries, of course). From her succe
Playing games can be a lot of fun, but in business they can take an ugly turn when they turn into head games. How we play games, or play at games, often reflects our true nature as to how we do business.We always have a choice. We can make it a win-lose or a win-win option. Playing head games in business involves lying, cheating, hidden agendas, one-upmanship, customer or employee exploitation, and the like. Often these behaviors find their essence in the need to be right, to be in control or to portray a particular image.On the other hand, playing games with integrity involves creating situations where both you and the customer wins. Everyone has their needs met and enjoys success. This involves cooperation, kindness, a service attitude and other supportive behaviors. There is a lot of truth to the phrase, “it’s not whether you win or lose it
Dealing with the Hypocrite
You need to figure out if your boss is just moody or if his behavior is done with intent. This is a huge distinction. If your boss’s behavior comes from mood swings, you need to keep your reactions as consistent as possible.
Whether things are good or bad, you need to control how you respond and not join your boss on his emotional rollercoaster. Be patient and professional at all times. Use a “charge neutral” voice, an even, unemotional tone.
On the other hand, if he alters his behavior to manipulate you, he is on power trip and patience and professionalism on your part won’t work. You’ll need to prepare an exit strategy and eventually, leave.
The Egomaniac
Does your boss suck up all the air in the room? An inflated personality is often part of entrepreneurial DNA. This type of boss wouldn’t be where she is without the drive and single-mindedness that catapulted her vision from an idea into reality. However, when an oversized ego defines her management style and overpowers team members, it becomes your problem.
Dealing with the Egomaniac
First, sometimes you need to let the boss take the credit (even if it was your idea). Okay, I can hear you saying “no way!” The reality is your job is to make her look good to clients and/or her boss. You need to do whatever it takes to help her achieve her goals (within ethical boundaries, of course). From her succe
Business cards are such a reliable way of reminding the public of your business and what it stands for. These cards are small and easy to carry with you wherever you go, ready to hand them to anyone you meet who could possibly benefit your business. They are very reliable advertisements and if you distribute them correctly you can reach a lot of people in your area.To make them is easy and it can be done at a very low cost. You can design them and print them at home on your home computer and printer. The main thing is to make them eye catching so that when you distribute them the passers by will willingly take one from you and read the card without actually thinking about it. Once they have read the card they will remember about your business and what it is that you do. When next they pass your premises they will be reminded that this is the store that was
The Egomaniac
Does your boss suck up all the air in the room? An inflated personality is often part of entrepreneurial DNA. This type of boss wouldn’t be where she is without the drive and single-mindedness that catapulted her vision from an idea into reality. However, when an oversized ego defines her management style and overpowers team members, it becomes your problem.
Dealing with the Egomaniac
First, sometimes you need to let the boss take the credit (even if it was your idea). Okay, I can hear you saying “no way!” The reality is your job is to make her look good to clients and/or her boss. You need to do whatever it takes to help her achieve her goals (within ethical boundaries, of course). From her success, flows your success.
Second, don’t let your being miffed at her taking the credit cloud the big picture. The big picture means helping her become successful so you can ultimately get what you want/need. It amounts to delaying immediate gratification for a bigger prize later. So, hold your tongue and communicate your personal goals to your boss when the timing is right.
Tip: you can always let her know after the presentation that you were so pleased one of “your” ideas played a role in winning the account or having the project turn out so well. Watch the tone of your voice. Make sure you don’t sound sarcastic or mocking. Your boss will understand what you are implying.
However, if your boss consistently overlooks your contributions, or if you are never recognized, then it’s time to start documenting your ideas. The cream always rises to the top and you can take your expertise to organizations where it will be appreciated. Until then, being a team player is the name of the game.
The Risk Averse Boss
He/she has zero comfort with risk taking. Any suggestions for streamlining or improving a procedure are met with a lukewarm reception.
Further, you feel like you are carrying your boss. The day they were doling out the genes for drive and ambition, your boss was AWOL. He/she does not lead or contribute and does the minimum amount necessary. Whenever you bring up a new idea or project, it never gets anywhere. This type of boss has no desire to move to the next level. And zero desire to help you get ahead.
Dealing with the Risk Averse Boss
Your job is to help your boss get comfortable with risk. Suggest possible scenarios, starting with low risk alternatives, to ease your boss into the process. Your boss may need to see the advantages in written form, with the pros outweighing the cons. Strengthen your case by lining up people who will support your suggestions. Take the time to build a strong case, one that makes it easy for your boss to say yes.
A Final Note
Learning the techniques necessary to thrive despite having a difficult boss will serve you well over the span of your entire career. Chances are, somewhere in your work life you will have a boss who challenges your patience and sanity. Building a time-tested arsenal of methods to handle this challenge is a transferable skill of the first order.
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